Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Day 11 - Little Month of St. Joseph

 

I1th Meditation.

"And Joseph went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David."
-Saint Luke ii. 4.

 

The journey was trying to Mary, and hardly less so to Saint Joseph, to whom fell all the anxiety and fatigue of seeking a shelter, and to whom all the humiliating refusals were addressed. Bethlehem is David's city, but no shelter will David's son find there for David's daughter, Mary, Mother of the King of kings! Not a murmur is uttered, no cloud o'ershadows the peace of Joseph's soul or the even serenity of his brow.

We can readily picture the smile with which Joseph's utterance is received, when he claims to be enrolled as a descendant of the house of David! If Cæsar has aught to fear, the danger will not proceed from this scion of Judah's royal line!

And yet, who at this moment reigns in Rome, and from Rome sways the world? Where is Cæsar? Vanished, together with his empire, in order to give place to the Vicegerent of Him whom Bethlehem rejected, and whom one of Cæsar's servants inscribed among the lowliest of his master's subjects. Let us beware of judging according to outward appearance, or we too might have despised Joseph, the spouse of Mary, of Mary, Mother of Jesus, King of kings. Eternal Word-very God and very man.

Let us not blush to appear poor and lowly; the world metes out its esteem and its contempt according to outward semblance; it falls prostrate at the feet of a poor miserable wretch, provided he wears a crown, and disdains true greatness, if greatness wears the livery of the poor.

We say again, and cannot too often reiterate: despise the world's contempt; more, if possible, than its esteem and honours; then, and only then, will you possess true liberty, and only then will you be truly great.

Watchword. Appear less than you really are.

11. The Venerable de la Salle and Saint Joseph.

The Venerable de la Salle placed his institution under the patronage of Saint Joseph, and daily recited the litanies of the Saint, recommending his brethren to do so likewise, in order that Saint Joseph's tender care of the Infant Jesus might serve as a model to them in bringing up the children intrusted to their care. The Saint proved how dear the Venerable Father was to his heart; when he fell sick, his strength returned on the eve of Saint Joseph's Day, and he was able to say Mass, his last, on the morning of the Feast. His health appeared to have been given back but for that purpose, for he soon experienced a relapse, and, in a few days, fell asleep in the Lord.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Prayers to St. Joseph

  Prayers to Saint Joseph. Let us address Saint Joseph in the words of the Angel:-"Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee M...